Nova S45E106: English vocabulary

a reddish-purple variety of corundum used as a gemstone.

a nerve cell that sends signals in the body and brain

the work of measuring land and recording its features, often for a map or building plan

a frog of the genus Rana

playfully unusual or imaginative in a charming way

to pull back suddenly, often because you are frightened or shocked

a very thin thread or fiber

a pile of hay

increasing very quickly

something that makes a surface, line, or shape even or level

a very small living thing, such as a bacterium or virus

a cloud of gas and dust in space

to shout loudly because you are excited or happy

to move in a circular or spiraling motion

covered with a messy layer of something that has been spread around

the practice of selling unpaid bills to get money before they are paid

slightly moving the head up and down, usually to show agreement or acknowledgment

a trap, often a loop of wire or cord, used to catch animals

to fill someone's mind so much that they cannot think about much else

a feeling of great surprise or wonder

land or ground, especially as opposed to water or air

a photo taken quickly and casually

the idea that things can be different depending on the point of view or situation

a small shapeless mass or lump

making quick, sharp movements

difficult to find, catch, understand, or remember

a small wave or series of small waves on the surface of water

to keep someone or something within limits or in one place

to figure out or read something that is hard to understand, especially a code or message

a small, tight group or mass of things

locked with a key

a specially cleaned room used for scientific work or making delicate equipment

relating to the force of gravity

to make someone very interested or curious

extremely large, strong, or powerful

to change the shape of something so it looks twisted or unclear

to talk in a casual, lively way

a process that makes cloth stiffer and stronger by coating it with a special substance

a computer-based model that imitates a real process or situation

by a large margin; much more than anything else

a large container used for holding liquids

the act of moving something on wheels

a game in which a player or side must reach five points before the other side does

a typical example or model of something

to think of someone or something in a particular way

to understand or deal with only a small part of something

to think of and create a plan, idea, or solution

to make something more difficult or harder to understand

radiation from space that reaches the Earth

relating to astronomy or space

a messy mark or streak made by a sticky or greasy substance

in a strange or unusual way

in a weak or feeble way

to record that you have started work or a shift

to throw something with a lot of force

a large cave or a large chamber inside a cave

to hold on tightly to someone or something

something that makes a process or change happen faster

the event that marked the beginning of the universe

very tired and lacking energy

used to emphasize that something is completely true or extreme

one part of a bigger situation, explanation, or plan

the act of combining money, resources, or efforts for a shared purpose

the ability to know or understand something quickly without thinking it through

to make someone feel excited and eager

to crush or bite something so it makes a loud, dry sound

to discover or learn something, especially by asking or checking

to seem reasonable or consistent

the process of making a surface or material smooth

far away; at a great distance

for now; until something changes

a valley

the very large majority of people or things

a scientist who studies stars, planets, and space

having a pale white or creamy color

to give someone or something an unofficial name or title